American Flies Into Busy Skies

July 4, 1985|By Washington Post

WASHINGTON — American Airlines' plan to open its second major north-south route expansion in less than a month -- a $60 million hub at Raleigh-Durham airport in North Carolina -- will allow it to launch a direct attack on markets served primarily by Piedmont, Eastern and Delta.

American's executives outlined their plans this week during a meeting with financial analysts.

Dallas-based American now serves Raleigh-Durham with four flights a day. By mid-1987 it plans 40 to 45 flights a day serving 20 to 25 cities.

On June 5 American announced plans to open a hub in Nashville, Tenn., to handle 130 flights to 60 destinations.

American will find competition.

A Delta official, who remembers ''being escorted out of town'' when the Atlanta-based airline attempted an invasion of Piedmont's territory, said, ''Anybody who gets in the briar patch with Piedmont better look out.''

And Miami-based Eastern, with 17 departures a day from Raleigh-Durham, will not ''roll over and play dead,'' a spokesman said.